2021 Oscars: Elton John leads stars poking fun at Covid-era 93rd Academy Awards

Elton John lead stars poking fun at 93rd Academy Awards on Sunday night, which looked a little different this year due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

The ceremony was held at Union Station, which is the main railway station in Los Angeles, and the unique production sparked some amusing comments from celebrities watching at home. 

Speaking from his first-ever virtual fundraiser for the Elton John Aids Foundation, usually held in West Hollywood, the Rocket Man singer quipped: ‘The Oscar ceremony looks like it’s coming from a Starbucks somewhere.’

Nailed it: Elton John said this year’s Oscars set ‘looked like a Starbucks’ as he watched from home while hosting a virtual bash for his annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscars party 

And the latte goes to: Elton compared the 93rd Academy Awards to a Starbucks

And the latte goes to: Elton compared the 93rd Academy Awards to a Starbucks  

Later, when speaking with husband David Furnish, a flummoxed Elton added: ‘I still can’t get over the set.’ 

Twitter and SNL star Leslie Jones did not hold back, as she is known for, giving her opinion out on the event. 

Leslie, 53, filmed her reaction as Mank’s Erik Messerschmidt said he would like to split his trophy for Best Cinematography into ‘five pieces.’

Skipping it this year: Elton John and David Furnish (pictured at 2019's Vanity Fair bash) are usually in West Hollywood hosting their own party for the Oscars

Skipping it this year: Elton John and David Furnish (pictured at 2019’s Vanity Fair bash) are usually in West Hollywood hosting their own party for the Oscars 

‘But we really hope that you don’t cut it into five pieces because, Lord have mercy,’ Leslie said in her video. ‘Everybody done got up there and said about 17 minutes of a f*****g speech. It’s already in the Alcoholics-Anonymous-and-we-gonna-roast-each-other f*****g building. And you motherf*****s look scared as f**k.’

She went on, ‘Don’t get up there and do a three-hour speech. So no, you shouldn’t be able to cut it into five parts. Thank God and move on, son!’ 

Meanwhile, Difficult People star Julie Klausner questioned whether the glitzy event was actually just a ‘fundraiser’ and comedian Fortune Feimster bemoaned the long speeches, tweeting: ‘Ok, we’re definitely going to need some play off music. It’s gonna be a long night.’

Comedian Sandra Bernhard did not appear to be enthused with the ceremony either as she tweeted that she was ‘slowly losing my mind’ while watching the show.

Ricky Gervais lampooned the Academy for not having a host, and posted his controversial 2020 Golden Globes monologue, where he took aim at Hollywood stars, saying: ‘It’s the Oscars tonight, I wasn’t invited. Was it something I said?’

Modern Family producer Daniel “Danny” Zuker tweeted: ‘The producers of the Oscars have truly captured the pure joy and excitement of spending 3 hours in a train station.’ 

While actress Kiran Deol joked: ‘There is something insane about hosting the Oscars in a train station when people attend to do not take public transportation.’  

The event marks the first time Tinseltown’s finest have assembled in over a year, for a three-hour show that co-producer Steven Soderbergh has described as being ‘like a movie.’

Fetching a beverage? Brad Pitt is seen at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles

Fetching a beverage? Brad Pitt is seen at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles

The main draw of Union Station was that socially distanced movie stars could go mask-free while on-camera or seated in the main show room.

Built in 1939, the national historic landmark and its main terminal is 161,000 square feet, creating plenty of room for theatrics on Hollywood’s biggest night. 

During normal times, when COVID restrictions haven’t crimped travel, more than 100,000 people a day walk through its halls.

Too afraid? Ricky Gervais lampooned the Academy for not having a host, and posted his controversial 2020 Golden Globes monologue, where he took aim at Hollywood stars

Too afraid? Ricky Gervais lampooned the Academy for not having a host, and posted his controversial 2020 Golden Globes monologue, where he took aim at Hollywood stars 

Not impressed: Comedian Sandra Bernhard did not appear to be enthused with the ceremony either as she tweeted that she was 'slowly losing my mind' while watching the show

Not impressed: Comedian Sandra Bernhard did not appear to be enthused with the ceremony either as she tweeted that she was ‘slowly losing my mind’ while watching the show

No host: Stars like Billy Eichner took the opportunity to jibe the Academy over who they could have got to host the event

No host: Stars like Billy Eichner took the opportunity to jibe the Academy over who they could have got to host the event 

Tough crowd: Difficult People's Julie Klausner hinted this year's event had a corporate feel

Tough crowd: Difficult People’s Julie Klausner hinted this year’s event had a corporate feel

Trainwreck? Twitter stars sounded off about the Oscars being held in a train station this year

Trainwreck? Twitter stars sounded off about the Oscars being held in a train station this year 

Comparatively the Dolby Theatre, where the glitzy event is usually held, can only seat around 3,300 people which would have created difficulties in putting on an award show amid the pandemic.

But in the spacious station, believed to be large enough to accommodate social distancing requirements with its soaring main hall featuring windows that are 40-feet high, stars have more room to mingle and maneuver.

Sticking to a ‘No Zoom’ policy unlike other shows that have taken place this awards season, Academy organizers have teased a ‘British hub’ for UK actors who are unable to make it in person, as well as another rumored ‘surprise location.’ 

93RD ACADEMY AWARDS WINNERS

Best Picture

The Father

Judas and the Black Messiah

Mank

Minari

Nomadland – WINNER

Promising Young Woman

Sound of Metal

The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Picture: The Trial of the Chicago 7 is one of the eight films nominated

Best Picture: The Trial of the Chicago 7 is one of the eight films nominated

 

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Andra Day – The United States vs Billie Holiday

Vanessa Kirby – Pieces of a Woman

Frances McDormand – Nomadland – WINNER

Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman

 

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy

Olivia Colman – The Father

Amanda Seyfried – Mank

Youn Yuh-jung – Minari – WINNER

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Olivia Colman is up for her role in The Father

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Olivia Colman is up for her role in The Father

Best Music (Original Score)

Da 5 Bloods

Mank

Minari

News of the World

Soul – WINNER

 

Best Animated Short Film

Burrow

Genius Loci

If Anything Happens I Love You – WINNER

Opera

Yes-People

 

Best Live Action Short Film

Feeling Through

The Letter Room

The Present

Two Distant Strangers

White Eye

 

Best International Feature Film

Another Round – WINNER

Better Days

Collective

The Man Who Sold His Skin

Quo Vadis, Aida?

Best Sound: Greyhound - a war film starring Tom Hanks - is up for the gong

Best Sound: Greyhound – a war film starring Tom Hanks – is up for the gong 

Best Sound

Greyhound

Mank

News of the World

Soul

Sound of Metal  – WINNER

 

Best Cinematography

Judas and the Black Messiah

Mank – WINNER

News of the World

Nomadland

The Trial of the Chicago 7  

 

Best Music (Original Song)

H.E.R. – Fight for You – Judas and the Black Messiah – WINNER

Hear My Voice – The Trial of the Chicago 7

Husavik – Eurovision Song Contest

Io Si (Seen) – The Life Ahead

Speak Now – One Night in Miami…

Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is vying for the award

Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is vying for the award

 Best Director  

Thomas Vinterberg – Another Round

David Fincher – Mank

Lee Isaac Chung – Minari

Chloé Zhao – Nomadland – WINNER

Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman

 

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Riz Ahmed – Sound of Metal 

 Anthony Hopkins – The Father – WINNER

Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom 

Gary Oldman – Mank

Steven Yeun – Minari 

 

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Sacha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7

Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah – WINNER

Leslie Odom, Jr. – One Night in Miami…

Paul Raci – Sound of Metal

Lakeith Stanfield – Judas and the Black Messiah

 

Best Animated Feature Film

Onward

Over the Moon

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

Soul – WINNER

Wolfwalkers

Best Animated Feature Film:  A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is nominated

Best Animated Feature Film:  A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is nominated

Best Costume Design

Emma

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – WINNER

Mank

Mulan

Pinnochio

 

Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

The Father – WINNER

Nomadland

One Night in Miami…

The White Tiger

 

Best Writing (Original Screenplay)

Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman – WINNER

Shaka King and Will Berson – Judas and the Black Messiah

Lee Isaac Chung – Minari

Darius Marder and Abraham Marder – Sound of Metal

 Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7

 

 

Best Documentary Feature

Collective

Crip Camp

The Mole Agent

My Octopus Teacher – WINNER

Time

Best Writing (Original Screenplay): Judas and the Black Messiah is up for the gong

Best Writing (Original Screenplay): Judas and the Black Messiah is up for the gong

Best Documentary Short Subject

Colette – WINNER

A Concerto Is a Conversation

Do Not Split

Hunger Ward

A Love Song for Latasha

 

Best Film Editing

The Father

Nomadland

Promising Young Woman

Sound of Metal – WINNER

The Trial of the Chicago 7

 

Best Production Design

The Father

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Mank – WINNER

News of the World

Tenet

 

Best Visual Effects

Love and Monsters

The Midnight Sky

Mulan

The One and Only Ivan

Tenet – WINNER

 

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Emma

Hillbilly Elegy

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – WINNER

Mank

Pinocchio

 

 

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